PARK CITY, Kan. — President Donald Trump sharply criticized Democrats during a rally Monday evening, characterizing them as anti-Christian extremists and likening them to the “jihadists” and “radicals” he blamed for violent protests in France. Speaking in support of Republican candidates ahead of the November midterm elections, Trump specifically targeted Kansas Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor, accusing him of “openly mock[ing] Jesus.”
Trump’s visit was aimed at bolstering Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who faces a competitive reelection bid in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932. Hamilton’s campaign published a video prior to the event welcoming the president to Kansas and expressing willingness for civil discussion, but the tone at the rally was confrontational.
Marshall described Hamilton as “the most radical, liberal Democrat to ever make it through a primary in Kansas” and alleged that the pastor had previously protected a sexual predator connected to his church. Hamilton has disputed this characterization, stating that Marshall is misrepresenting the church’s handling of allegations involving a camp volunteer from two decades ago.
Referencing Hamilton’s positions on transgender issues, Trump said the candidate “openly mocks Jesus” and suggested that electing Hamilton would mean supporting a “pervert.” He also accused Hamilton of pretending to be a moderate, noting the pastor’s support in affluent Kansas City suburbs.
Hamilton’s campaign responded by accusing Marshall’s team of desperation and said that voters are more concerned about economic hardships such as rising fuel prices and access to affordable health care than the attacks made at the rally. “Nothing said at the rally can distract from the fact Kansans are being crushed by rising gas and diesel prices, struggling to access affordable health care, and are tired of Washington corruption,” campaign spokesperson Tyson Brody said.
The Kansas Senate race is viewed as a critical battleground, as Democrats seek to flip at least two Senate seats in states won by Trump by double digits in 2024 to reclaim control of the chamber. Trump acknowledged the tight nature of the race and warned that a vote for “any Democrat” would empower a small group of “extremists” to hold the country “hostage.”
During the rally, Trump attempted to tie Hamilton and other Democratic candidates to broader themes of religious and cultural division, referencing Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed—whom he misidentified by using the name “Mohammed”—and invoking former President Barack Obama’s support for El-Sayed. Trump’s remarks also included references to recent unrest in France, where protests over rising living costs resulted in over 2,000 arrests.
A video segment shown at the rally depicted the French protests, which Trump used as a warning for American voters. “If you want to see what’s at stake in this election, just look at what’s happening in France, a once great nation, that is being conquered, looted and burned to the ground by migrants, jihadists and communists who hate Christianity, and they hate, frankly, Western civilization itself,” Trump said. He added that “burning steeples and raging fires in France” represent what “radical Democrats want to do in America.”